Citroen C3

The Citroen C3 is a sub-4-meter vehicle, but it's not an SUV. Even though it has SUV-like styling, Citroen calls it a premium hatchback with an SUV touch. Given its price range, it competes with cars such as the Hyundai i20, Maruti Baleno, and the Tata Altroz. It also overlaps with the Tata Punch, Maruti Ignis, and the Hyundai Exter. 

It's a car made to appeal to buyers who want a mix of style, space, and comfort in a compact package even if it means compromising on features.

Looks

Doesn't the C3 look a bit chunky? It's like the Brezza, Sonet, and Venue, just under four meters long. It's taller than the Nissan Magnite but a bit shorter than the Hyundai Venue. The wheelbase is longer than its SUV-like rivals, giving the C3 a wide and confident appearance. 

It has SUV-like features such as front and rear skid plates and body cladding along the sides. Citroen C3 ground clearance stands at 180mm, which is more than regular hatchbacks but just a bit less than most sub-4-meter SUVs. In the top-spec Shine variant, you also get dual-tone 15-inch alloy wheels which make the car stand out.

You can see Citroen's signature design in the front with the LED elements and also the bold tail lamps. There are interesting details, like the scooped-out sections around the headlamp and tail lamp, and stylish wheel covers. The optional bright orange accents on the fog lamp surroundings, floating roof, and body cladding also add some character to the design. The design is unique but not too extreme, which is a good thing in our opinion.

Interiors

It’s hard to not appreciate the fundamental design and practicality of the C3’s interior. To begin with, the doors open wide and close with a satisfying sound.

Inside, you'll notice the quality in the seat covers, which get stylish fabric upholstery with attractive orange stitching. Even the plastics on the door panels look good and feel sturdy, including the ones inside the door pockets. Impressive!

The space at the front is enough, even for taller occupants.  The seats are positioned higher than they would be in a hatchback, and the view out is good, offering a commanding view. The dash has an air of quality thanks to the shimmery burnt-orange finish, or the chrome finish around the air-con vents, which look and feels very well executed. The attention to detail can be felt in the well-damped manner in which the air-con vents move.

Citroen claims the C3 offers theater-style seating because the hip point (the part where your hip rests when you sit) is 27 millimeters higher than the front seats. Sitting in this position, you get a better view of the cabin, and the seating is comfortable and supportive. There's enough space, and even with a 6 foot tall person driving, another 6 footer can comfortably sit in the back. Carrying three adults in the rear for city trips should not be a problem. For longer journeys, two adults and a child will be comfortable here. 

Then there is the air-conditioning system, which is said to be engineered to cool the entire cabin with the blower speed at two. Why? Because Indians don't like the noisy higher settings. On the very sultry morning that we drove the C3 in Goa, to my surprise, I didnt have to exceed the 1st speed.  

Look closely and you will notice thoughtful touches, like the two USB charging points for the rear occupants. Then there’s the clever design for the phone holder that allows you to route your cable underneath without bending it too far. The centre console at the front gets built-in cable guides and a spot to mount a phone holder. There’s lots of storage in the centre console and the door pockets aren’t XL sized, but sufficient. 

Boot Space

Citroen C3 boot space is claimed to be 315-litres. The boot is deep, and will accommodate a full-size, medium and overnight trolley bag. A negative is that the rear seat does not get a 60:40 split functionality, nor does the seat fold flat. Therefore, managing extra luggage is a task since it tends to slide around quite a bit. 

Features

The feature list of the Citroen C3 is quite basic. At this price point we expected more. It only covers the essentials such as central locking, four power windows, manual air-conditioning. Other features include a day/night inside mirror and powered outside mirrors. 

The only highlight is a 10-inch touchscreen system that features wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and also doubles up as the display for the reverse parking camera. The instrument cluster is also a very basic black and white display that has limited information. 

At this price point it continues to miss features such as push button start stop, automatic climate control, wireless charging and cruise control — most of which its rivals offer.

Safety

Safety features on the C3 include dual airbags, and ABS with EBD. It does not get ISOFIX child seat mounts. In the Turbo variants, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring system and hill hold has been provided. 

Citroen C3 crash test: the Indian model has not been crash tested yet. However, a made-in-Brazil unit scored 0 stars in the LatinNCAP test.

Drive

Citroen is offering the C3 with a choice of two engines: 1.2-litre petrol, and 1.2-litre turbo petrol. Both are three-cylinder engines.

1.2-litre Petrol

First and foremost, the naturally aspirated engine feels smooth, and damps any thrum. Second, it doesn't sound noisy either. The smooth power delivery and the resulting drivability makes it easy to use in all kinds of conditions. The gearshifts on this five speed gearbox are smooth, the clutch is light, which means everyday commuting duties will be relaxed.

It can reach highway speeds comfortably and cruise without problems. However, when you need to pass another vehicle or accelerate quickly, you'll need to shift gears. The engine has a decent amount of power, but the gearing is tall.In the first three gears, it shows speeds of 54kmph, 99kmph, and 148kmph on the speedometer. This makes acceleration feel a bit slow, but it contributes to a claimed fuel efficiency of 19.8kmpl. 

1.2-litre Turbo Petrol

Compared to the non-turbo engine, you might notice a slightly heavier clutch and gear shift in the turbo model’s 6-speed gearbox. This engine accelerates effortlessly and Citroen’s claims of 0-100kmph in approximately 10 seconds is very believable.

The extra performance is especially useful on the highway, making overtaking easier. Driving in the city is also hassle-free because the engine doesn't struggle even at low speeds. This engine is more versatile between the two. Choose this engine if you like driving with more power or if you often take long highway trips.

Ride and Handling

The C3 handles rough roads, potholes, and uneven surfaces very well. It makes bumps almost disappear, and it doesn't bounce or wobble. The tires with tall sidewalls provide extra cushioning, allowing the C3 to smoothly glide over damaged roads. 

But there's more to it. Surprisingly, despite its low speed comfort, the C3 remains stable at high speeds. While there's a bit of body roll in sharp turns at high speeds, it quickly settles down. It feels well-balanced and steady even at speeds over 120kmph. Credit is due to the 195-section tires from Ceat, but a lot of the magic comes from the chassis and suspension. The flat-bottom steering wheel design adds a sporty feel and also inspires confidence at higher speeds. This compact car feels mature in its behavior.

Verdict

The Citroen C3 is a thoroughly practical hatchback. It’s core strengths are space and comfort — you cannot fault it in this department. However, considering the missing features and the pricing it becomes a little hard to recommend.